The abbreviated story of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Rochester, Michigan

The earliest record of services in Rochester were kept at All Saints, Pontiac and later transferred to a separate register for the mission organized by the Rev. L. S. Stevens in 1894.

St. Philip’s Mission Congregation also used the Universalist Society’s building on Walnut Boulevard. Mrs. W. H. Jackson was the mainstay of the church for many years, but few Episcopalians lived in Rochester and the mission became dormant in 1916.

Representatives of ten families first met at the Rochester Community House; and later, rented space on the second floor of the store on the northeast corner of Main and Fourth for their place of worship. John Strahn of Detroit was the first Lay Reader and Fred C. Blome was the first warden.

In 1928 a two story house on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Walnut Boulevard was purchased and remodeled. This became the congregation’s new home for mission and ministry.

Consistent with the “high ecclesiology” of Anglicans, St. Philip’s chose to remain as close to the centers of: government, education, and commerce as possible.

The Chapman House was designed by Albert Kahn, who was the foremost American industrial architect of his day. He is sometimes called the “architect” or “builder of Detroit.”

The last remaining piece of the Chapman Estate was recently reclaimed by St. Philip’s as part of an Eagle Scout project by Mark Beindorff, who was part of Boy Scout Troop 40, sponsored by our parish.

The architect’s Building Prospectus declared St. Philip’s “an excellent risk” with “steadily increasing potential” and observed that the new building would facilitate the immediate goal of achieving Parish status.

From a nucleus of 40 families in 1949, the parish grew to more than 300 families during the 1980’s. In 1960 an educational annex was added.

William Willet (1869 – 1921) was an American muralist, stained-glass designer, and early proponent of the “Gothic Revival School" of American stained-glass. His work is found in many Episcopal Churches and Cathedrals including the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and the Cadet Chapel at West Point, New York.

“Woman at the Well” in memory of: Alice Louise Wash “Jesus the Good Shepherd” in memory of: Walter and Eleanor Morris

This window is an image of the resurrected Christ, who, having set us free, returns to His Father in Heaven. Since the original window designs were figurative, this newer window, too, is figurative though more abstract.

Around the altar the theme of angelic messengers conveys the belief that “Good News” is found in all of Scripture. The ambo – lectern / pulpit – depicts three scenes from the life of St. Philip and the figures of the four Evangelists.

The Baptismal Font was designed by Christine Reinhard and fabricated in Saginaw. Its six- sided shape is a reminder that on the sixth day of the week, Jesus lay in death, a death into which we are Baptized. The Sanctus Bell was added in 2004 and is from the Tom Torrens Sculpture Design Studio.

This we are doing in Rochester, Pontiac, Detroit, the Midwest, Ghana, and Nicaragua. Alleluia!